OMG did Danny Hurley's agent PLAY the Los Angeles Lakers!
When Woj reported that the Lakers were in serious discussions with Danny Hurley and were preparing a "massive" offer to land the 2x defending champion UConn Huskies MBB Head Coach, sports media had a cow. It basically sidelined Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
That last Thursday I was in the car and happened to turn on the Rob Dibble Show that broadcasts from Hartford and is radio home of UConn sports. Rob Dibble and his partner Ben Darnell pointed out that Geno Auriemma just signed a big extension yesterday and that Hurley shares the same agent. They thought given this, and Hurley being an East Coast guy, that his agent was just using the Lakers to boost Hurley's ability to get more from UConn, and make him a recruiting force like no other.
When Hurley returned from a trip to Los Angeles this weekend without being signed by Lakers, and it was reported that he would make his decision on Monday, I knew he was staying at UConn. No coach makes an announcement they are leaving their current employer to take another job. They just show up at the new place.
The Lakers should be embarrassed. The first rule of sales is don't let the prospect leave until you close the deal. The first rule of PR when looking to hire someone is to not let it be known you might be hiring a top candidate, until you know said candidate is signing. The Lakers allowed Hurley's agent to give Woj the "Lakers are preparing a massive offer," knowing it would be reported and knowing Hurley would capitalize on all the publicity by turning it down to stay at UConn.
Now the Lakers look like incompetent fools, allowing themselves to be played publicly like this, and used by a college coach. Hey, Lakers, you were turned down for freaking Storrs, Connecticut! Any competent organization would have known Hurley likely would not be leaving the East Coast because they would have done their homework. Instead, their hubris got in the way as they thought "who would ever turn down glitzy, great weather L.A., and the Lakers??? We just need to offer him and he won't turn US down."
I'm going to predict Danny Hurley lands some very top end players to go after his three-peat championship.
When Woj reported that the Lakers were in serious discussions with Danny Hurley and were preparing a "massive" offer to land the 2x defending champion UConn Huskies MBB Head Coach, sports media had a cow. It basically sidelined Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
That last Thursday I was in the car and happened to turn on the Rob Dibble Show that broadcasts from Hartford and is radio home of UConn sports. Rob Dibble and his partner Ben Darnell pointed out that Geno Auriemma just signed a big extension yesterday and that Hurley shares the same agent. They thought given this, and Hurley being an East Coast guy, that his agent was just using the Lakers to boost Hurley's ability to get more from UConn, and make him a recruiting force like no other.
When Hurley returned from a trip to Los Angeles this weekend without being signed by Lakers, and it was reported that he would make his decision on Monday, I knew he was staying at UConn. No coach makes an announcement they are leaving their current employer to take another job. They just show up at the new place.
The Lakers should be embarrassed. The first rule of sales is don't let the prospect leave until you close the deal. The first rule of PR when looking to hire someone is to not let it be known you might be hiring a top candidate, until you know said candidate is signing. The Lakers allowed Hurley's agent to give Woj the "Lakers are preparing a massive offer," knowing it would be reported and knowing Hurley would capitalize on all the publicity by turning it down to stay at UConn.
Now the Lakers look like incompetent fools, allowing themselves to be played publicly like this, and used by a college coach. Hey, Lakers, you were turned down for freaking Storrs, Connecticut! Any competent organization would have known Hurley likely would not be leaving the East Coast because they would have done their homework. Instead, their hubris got in the way as they thought "who would ever turn down glitzy, great weather L.A., and the Lakers??? We just need to offer him and he won't turn US down."
I'm going to predict Danny Hurley lands some very top end players to go after his three-peat championship.
